Tire building machine

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for building a giant tire and particularly for building one or more endless bands of suitable ply stock and for transferring such bands from the band building means to a carcass building drum after which transfer the remaining construction of the tire can be accomplished conventionally. The apparatus includes a wide, flat, endless belt, the surface of which functions as a splicing table whereon successive panels of ply stock are joined edge-to-edge to form a ply and also as means for transferring the so-formed ply directly into wrapping relation with a band building surface whereon such ply is made endless to form a tire ply band. A bridge spanning the width of the belt, at successive selected angles transverse to the direction of movement of the belt, supports at least one ply stock pay-off means from which successive discrete panels of suitable ply stock are disposed on the surface of the belt. The band building means is provided by a generally cylindrical drum the circumference of which is adjustable. Alternative systems of cooperation between the carcass building drum and the band building drum are also set forth.

[4 1 Feb. 18,1975

[ TIRlE BUILDING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Max D. Brinkley, North Canton;

Robert I. Griffiths, Akron, both of Ohio [73] Assignee: The GoodyearTire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio [22] Filed: Jan. 12, 1973 [21] Appl,No.: 323,030

[52] US. Cl 156/405, 156/133, 156/396 [51] Int. Cl B29h 17/02, 1329b17/14 [58] Field of Search 156/110,111,l23, 124,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 506,536 10/1893 OBryan270/31 1,714,799 5/1929 Midgleyn... 156/132 X 2,340,040 l/l944 Carlin156/133 2,936,813 5/1960 l-laase 156/126 2,982,327 5/1961 Vanzo et al.156/1281 3,192,094 6/1965 Phillips ct al. 156/353 3,230,132 l/l966Mallory et al. l 156/406 3,479.238 11/1969 Kehoe ct a1 156/123 3,591,4397/1971 Leblond et al 156/396 3,606,303 9/1971 Johnson 270/31 3,607,5559/1972 Leblond et a1 156/396 3,654,026 4/1972 Brinkley et al. 156/4203,756,893 9/1973 Smith 28/1 CL FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 196,27612/1923 Great Britain 156/397 231,994 l/1959 Australia 156/133 PrimaryExaminerClifton B. Cosby Assistant Examiner-John E. Kittlle Attorney,Agent, or Firm-F. W. lBrunner; R. S. Washburn 1 1 ABSTRACT Method andapparatus for building a giant tire and particularly for building one ormore endless bands of suitable ply stock and for transferring such bandsfrom the band building means to a carcass building drum after whichtransfer the remaining construction of the tire can be accomplishedconventionally. The apparatus includes a wide, flat, endless belt,'thesurface of which functions as a splicing table whereon successive panelsof ply stock are joined edge-toedge to form a ply and also as means fortransferring the so-formecl ply directly into wrapping relation with aband building surface whereon such ply is made endless to form a tireply band. A bridge spanning the width of the belt, at successiveselected angles transverse to the direction of movement'of the belt,supports at least one ply stock pay-off means from which successivediscrete panels of suitable ply stock are disposed on the surface of thebeltfThe band building means is pro vided by a generally cylindricaldrum the circumference of which is adjustable. Alternative systems ofcooperation between the carcass building drum and the band building drumare also set forth.

1 TIRE BUILDING MACHINE The foregoing abstract is not to be taken aslimiting the invention of this application, and in order to understandthe full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of thisapplication, reference must be made to the accompanying drawing and thefollowing detailed description.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The building of giant tires is entirelydifferent from building the ordinary and relatively more familiar tiresused on vehicles which travel over paved highways or streets. The termgiant tire as used in the present specification means not only tires ofgreat size but also of constructions adapted for use on off-the-roadequipment such as earthmovers, and the like. By way of illustration, theapparatus about to be described is adapted to construct tires havingbead diameters from 39 inches to 69 inches and in which the band widthmeasured from edge to edge of the ply from which the band is formed maybe as much as 220 inches and the circumference of the band before thesame is expanded into its final tire shape, may range from 164 inches to290 inches. While earthmover tires approaching such size have previouslybeen built, the successive plies have been built conventionally eitherdirectly upon a car- Cass-forming drum or on the rotatable surface of aband builder. In both cases, each successive portion of ply stock wasrequired to be positioned by hand and spliced by hand. These operationsrequired not only great physical effort by the tire builder, but madethe accurate repetition of successive operations extremely difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A principal object of the invention is toprovide for building giant tires more efficiently than heretofore, withless human effort and time expended and with repeatable precision in theplacement of components of the tire, particularly of the ply or pliesforming the carcass.

The foregoing and other objects, which will be made apparentsubsequently herein, are accomplished in accordance with the inventionby a method comprising cutting a plurality of successive discrete panelsof predetermined length from a running length of ply stock having amultiplicity of reinforcement cord elements extending therein parallelto each said length and spacing said panels apart end to end. A corebeam having a supply of such panels wound thereon is translated in adirection parallel to the cord elements repeatedly forward and backacross the horizontal top reach of an endless belt while transferringfrom said supply to said reach of belt one of said panels in successivepasses of the beam forwardly across the belt, moving the reach of thebelt forward toward band building means a distance proportional to thewidth of said panels as each such pass is completed and joining alongitudinal edge of each successive panel to the adjacent longitudinaledge of the next preceding panel when the same have been successivelytransferred to the reach of belt, so as to form an integralpredetermined length tire ply, then juxtaposing said belt and tire bandbuilding means and rotating both said belt and said means at likesurface speeds to transfer said ply from the reach of belt to said meansand to wind about the latter to be formed as an endless tire bandthereon, and thereafter transferring the so-built band from said bandbuilding means to a tire building drum and effecting completion of thetire.

In order to carry out the aforesaid method. a new combination ofapparatus includes band building means such as a rotatable band buildingdrum having a surface adjustable in its circumferential length, anendless belt with a horizontal top surface for receiving thereon precutpanels of ply stock and having means for moving the same toward saiddrum, a bridge spanning said belt, and at least one stock let-off truckmounted on said bridge for movement back and forth therealong inselected directions transversely of the direction of movement of saidbelt.

To acquaint those skilled in the arts most nearly related to theinvention claimed herein, a preferred embodiment and mode for puttingthe same into practice, are described below making reference to theattached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of apparatus in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the apparatus as seen from line 2-2 FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a partial elevation view of a portion of the apparatus as seenfrom the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of apparatus according to the invention differingsomewhat in arrangement from that shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a bias-cutting and rewindingapparatus for preparing tire ply stock for use in the apparatus of FIG.1 or that of FIG. 4.

A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In accordance with the present invention, plystock having a prescribed multiplicity of reinforcement cord elementscovered with non-cured gum or rubber com pound, is received in largerolls. Such rolls contain, for example, several hundred yards of plystock of suitable width. The reinforcement elements therein can be ofany known material suitable for reinforcement of such giant tires. Theterm, cord elements, herein will be understood to mean any filamentarymaterial assembled in yarn, strand, cord or cable. Commonly, thereinforcing cord elements are metallic cable with all such cablesextending parallel to the running length of the ply stock.

In the method according to the invention, such ply stock is cuttransversely of its running length to form a plurality of successivepanels each of predetermined length. The ply stock is receivedinterwound on the roll together with a separating liner of cloth or theequivalent. This first liner is separated from the ply stock immediatelyprior to its entry into the region of a cut-off means and such ply stockimmediately is taken onto the surface of a second separating liner whichextends in directional alignment with the first liner so that the cordelements of the ply stock are in no way changed in their direction ofparallel alignment. After each successive panel has been cut from therunning length of ply stock, it is wound, together with the secondliner, about a core beam to form a precisely wound roll. A sufficientnumber of panels are interwound with the second liner on the roll sothat the roll will weigh in excess of 1,000 pounds. The individualpanels so cut preferably are spaced apart end to end on the second linerfor purposes which will be made more plain presently.

In order to join successive panels one to another to form a ply oflength sufficient to encompass the band building means, the roll on thebeam is translated in a direction, normal to its own axis, across asplicing table provided by the flat and preferably horizontal reach ofan endless belt. The direction of travel of the roll is at apredetermined angle with respect to the direction of travel of theendless belt. During a pass of the roll across the belt, the secondliner is unwound sufficiently for one of the precut panels to betransferred from the liner to the splicing table. After the roll hasmade a complete pass across the table, the endless belt is advanced adistance commensurate with the width (in the direction of belt movement)of the ply stock panel while the roll is being returned to its startingposition. The roll is again traversed across the belt while a secondpanel is transferred from the liner onto the splicing table as before.The advance of the endless belt is sufficient to permit a predeterminedamount of overlap of the second panel with respect to the first so thatthe two panels can be suitably spliced. In like manner, succeedingpanels are laid down on the splicing table until there are accumulatedon the splicing table a sufficient number of panels to completelyencompass the band building means.

It is also contemplated within the scope of the invention that thesuccessive panels can be cut from an uncut running length of ply stockcarried in a supply roll wound about such. core beam. The supply rolland beam, in this modification, can be translated forward and backacross the belt of the splicing table. As the ply stock is unwoundduring one pass across the belt, a predetermined length is measured andcut off from the running length on the supply roll to form a nextdiscrete panel, while a former panel precut in like manner is beingdisposed on the surface of the belt.

It is a feature of the present invention that the same belt which servesas a splicing table also serves to transfer the ply from the endlesssplicing table directly to the band building means. To accomplish this,the splicing table endless belt is moved into juxtaposition with thesurface of band building means such as a rigid surface drum. Thecircumferential surface of the band building drum and of the belt arethen moved at like surface speeds. The ply is then transferred from theendless belt onto the band building means, being wrapped thereabout. Theleading and trailing edges of the ply are then joined to form an endlesstire band on the band building means.

Both the method and apparatus in accordance with the present inventioncontemplate building a tire having radial plies, in which the cordelements extend at least approximately parallel to the axis of the tireand, with equal facility, a bias-ply tire in which successive plies havecord elements oriented obliquely and oppositely with respect to a planenormal to the axis of the tire.

In the construction of a bias-ply tire, the sequence just described isrepeated, changing only the angle of the travel of the roll relative tothe belt and the orientation of the roll axis so that the winding lineris unwound from the roll in the rotational sense opposite to thatemployed in previously unwinding the roll. In a manner identical to thatdescribed above, the second ply having its cord elements disposed atequal but opposite angles with respect to the direction of movement ofthe belt is again wound about and spliced on the band building means.

upon a cantilevered shaft 14 havin g'suitable drive.

means 16 connected to provide rotation of the drum. In association withthe drum are conventional headsetting mechanisms 18,19, shownschematically, as well as a stitcher mechanism 20 of conventional designand function. The mechanism 20 can be moved away from the drum 12 to theremote position 20' to make space for the movement of the band transferring 22 presently to be described in greater detail.

Associated with the tire building drum 12 is a band building means herein the form of a generally cylindrical drum 24 having a metal surface,the circumference of which is adjustable in length both to provideincrements of increase in circumference as successive bands are builtand to facilitate removal of an already constructed band off the bandbuilding drum 24 to be incorporated in the tire. A band building drumparticularly suitable for use in accordance with the present inventionhas been described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,654,026, issued Apr. 4, 1972, toMax D. Brinkley and Robert I. Griffiths.

The band building drum 24 is supported for rotation on a shaft 26rotatably mounted in bearing housings 27 at one end and, like the tirebuilding drum 12, is connected to its own drive means 28 for rotatingthe drum 24.

In order to facilitate the transfer of a completed band from the bandbuilding drum 24 onto the tire building drum 12, the bearing housings 27are mounted on a track provided by the two rails 31,32 on which the bandbuilding drum 24 can be moved coaxially toward and away from the tirebuilding drum 12. The beadsetting and ply turnup mechanism 19 is alsomounted to travel along the rails 31,32 from its operation position asshown (FIG. 1) onto the turntable 34. After the turntable has beenturned from its position as shown, the mechanism 19 is then moved offthe turntable at right angles to the common axis 36 of the drum 12 anddrum 24 so that the band building drum 24 can be brought into coaxialjuxtaposition with the tire building drum 12 at which time the bandpull-on ring 22 can be attached to the band by the circumferential arrayof clamps 38 and actuated to move the band coaxially and directly fromthe band building drum 24 to the tire building drum 12. Apparatusparticularly adapted for transferring a band in the manner justdescribed is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,936,813, issued May 17, 1960,to J. I. I-Iaase.

To provide an uncured gum liner in the tire, a ply of uncured rubbercompound is applied directly to the surface of the band building drum 24to become an integral part of the first ply or plies which constitutethe initial of first band of the tire. For this purpose, a gum stockletoff 40 is mounted on the platform 41 for movement toward and awayfrom the band building drum in a direction normal to the axis 36. Theplatform 41 is mounted for movement parallel to the axis 36 on a track42 disposed in the floor adjacent the band building drum. Successivestrips of liner gum stock more narrow than the face width of the drum 24can be wound circumferentially onto the drum 24 from the letoff 40. Theletoff 40 is placed in successive spaced locations along the drum sothat the successive strips of liner gum stock are wrappedcircumferentially about the drum. The plurality of narrow strips sowrapped are joined to form an integral liner ply of the full widthrequired in the band and ultimate tire.

To construct a single integral ply length to be wrapped once about theband building drum 24 to form thereon an endless band or an endlesselement of a composite band of two or more superposed band layers, aplurality of panels P, of ply stock are assembled and joined edge toedge on a splicing table. The surface 50 of the table 52 is provided byan endless flat belt 54 trained about a forward 56 and a rear carryingroll 58 which are mounted rotatably about axes parallel to the axis 36of the band building drum 24. The rolls 56,58 are supported in suitablebearings mounted on a frame 60 extending generally normal to the drumaxis 36 and supported on tracks 62 by a plurality of wheels 64 fixed onthe frame. Drive means 66 are connected to drive the rear roll 58 torotate the belt about rolls 56,58, the intermediate supporting rolls(not shown), and the frame. Further drive means 68 are connected to theframe 60 to move the table 52 in a direction perpendic' ular to the axis36 of the drum, from its position as shown in FIG. 2 to a forwardposition (shown in phantom outline) in which the forward end portion 70of the frame 60 carrying the roll 56 and belt are disposed beneath theband building drum 24. The forward portion 70 of the frame isarticulated as at 72 and is provided with elevating means 74 by whichthe forward portion 70 and the forward roll 56 with a portion of thebelt 54 can be raised sufficiently to bring a ply disposed on the belt54 into contact with the drum 24 or with a band already in place on thedrum to initiate the transfer of the ply to the drum.

A first ply can be caused to wrap about the drum 24 by the tack, orwell-known tendency ofply stock to ad here to the previously mentioneduncured gum of the carcass liner already on the drum. In initiating thewrapping of a subsequent ply or of a ply in the absence of such gumliner, the wrapping transfer of the ply from the belt 54 to the surfaceof the drum 24 is assisted by magnetic force. One or more magneticdevices 76 are removably attached to the surface of the drum 24 with theleading edge of the ply held between the devices and the drum surface bythe magnetic force acting through the ply thickness.

To provide convenient access to the band on the drum 24, particularly toinspect or to perfect a splice of the respective ends of the ply to formthe band, an operators platform 73 spans the table 52 parallel the drumaxis 36. The platform is mounted on wheels 75 enabling the platform tobe moved close to the drum surface and away from the drum. Means, notshown, are provided to locate and to retain the platform fixedly inposition relative to the drum 24 during building of a band thereon.Conventional stitching mechanism 77 operable to consolidate a band ismounted on the platform. Supply reels for dispensing additional tireband components, e.g. sidewall veneer, wedge strips, or the like, canalso be mounted on the platform for the convenience of the builder.

To dispose each successive panel P of ply stock on the surface 50 of thebelt 54 which forms the splicing table 52, a supply roll 80 (80R,80L)comprising a sepa rating liner 81 of cloth or equivalent is wound on acore beam 83. The beam is supported in suitable bearings 85 on a truck87 having support wheels 88 by which the truck and roll are traversedlongitudinally of bridge means spanning the belt. The truck 87 alsoprovides a beam 89 carrying a shell 91 on which the liner 81 is re woundfrom the roll 80. Also mounted on the truck is a roll 93 which canfunction to form a splice joining successive panels one to another. Theroll 93 is mounted on a parallel pair of swing arms 95 by which the rollis raised or lowered relative to the surface 50 of the splicing table52.

The bridge means in the apparatus 10 comprises a horizontal bridgemember of open truss construction which carries tracks 102 on which thewheels of the truck 87 are supported. The truck 87 moves longitudinallyof the bridge member 100 forward and back across the belt 54. The bridgemember is supported above the table 52 by vertical legs 104,106 spacedoutwardly from the table 52. Each of the legs has a wheel or dolly 108rollable on one of the arcuate tracks 110,112 set on or in the floor114.. Each, in the apparatus 10, of the dollies 108 has drive means 116mounted thereon which means cooperate to swing the bridge member to anappropriate angle with respect to the direction of movement of the belt54 about a vertical axis 120 established by the pivot bearing fixture122 attached to the legs 106 and the pivot stud 124 set in the floor. Aswill be apparent from the drawings, the bridge member 100 in theapparatus 10 provides two parallel side-by-side trackways 130,131 toaccommodate two trucks 87. A single track structure can suffice forbuild ing radial ply bands (wherein the cord elements extend parallel tothe band and ultimate tire axis) but requires that the panels dispensedfor building successive plies of opposite bias angles be disposed from asingle roll one side up for one bias angle ply and the other side up forthe opposite bias angle ply. The dual bridge structure of the apparatus10 accommodates two trucks 87 and supply rolls 80R and 80L, which can beidentical except for the orientation of the bias-cut ends of therespective panels dispensed from the rolls. It will be ap parent,however, that either bias ply bands (wherein the cord elements of therespective plies make opposite, and usually equal, acute angles with aplane normal to the axis of the band and of the ultimate tire) or radialply bands can be built by the apparatus 10.

In FIG. 4, there is illustrated an alternative arrangement of the tirebuilding drum 12. As before, the building drum is mounted upon a spindle14 which is supported in bearing housings 140. Ply turning andbeadsetting mechanisms 142,143 are mounted coaxially of the drum 12 andthe spindle. In the position illustrated, FIG. 4, where one or morebands are con verted to form a tire carcass, the axis 146 of the tirebuilding drum 12 is disposed normal to the axis 148 of the band buildingdrum 24. The bearing housings are mounted on a turret 150 having apivotal axis 15' extending vertically at the intersection of the spindleaxis 146 and the band building drum axis 148. To receive a band from theband building drum 24 on which it has been built, the tire building drum12' is turned into coaxial alignment with the band building drum 24 inwhich position the transfer of the band is accomplished in the samemanner as has been described the apparatus of FIG. 1.

To prepare the roll 80 or rolls 80R,80L containing the successive panelsP of ply stock to be disposed on thebelt 54, the successive panels arecut from a continuous running length of ply stock which has beenprepared in the customary manner by calendering and wound in the roll160 (FIG. together with a first separating liner (not shown) of cloth orthe equivalent on a core 162. This core is mounted in an unwind orletoff stand 165 in which the core is supported rotatably on a core bar167 so that the stock can be unwound in a direction parallel to therunning length of the cord elements in the ply. As the unwindingprogresses, the first liner is rewound separately from the ply stock,which ply stock is then passed through the conventional biascuttingmechanism 170 in which the running length of ply stock is cuttransversely into a sequence of individual discrete ply panels P each ofpredetermined length between cut edges which edges will ultimately liein planes perpendicular to the axis of the tire. The ply stock istransferred immediately before entering the cutting mechanism 170 to thesecond separating liner 81 by which the cut panels are moved away toseparate the cut edge of the panel from the cut edge of the runninglength of ply stock extending from the roll 160 with the result that thecut panels are spaced end to end and not contiguous on the liner 81. Thesecond liner 81 is moved continuously, winding the panels P therein onthe roll 80 (or one of 8011,8011). It may also be moved faster. Thesupply roll 160 and the uncut ply stock moves intermittently, beingstopped as each cut is made. The panels P are thus spaced apartend-to-end a satisfactory distance.

The second liner 81 and the panels P are wound onto a second roll 80(80R,80L) which will be transferred to the truck 87. Mention has beenmade earlier herein of the advantage obtained by this spacing of thepanels' P on the liner 81. It will be recalled that as the liner 81 isunwound from the roll 80 (80R,80L) as the truck 87 is moved across thebelt 54, one precut ply panel P is dispensed from the truck andpositioned on the belt. The end-to-end spacing of the ply panels Penables the cut leading end of the panel to be disposed with manualassistance in precise alignment with the desired plane 180 which is theply and band edge and with the cut ends of previous and succeedingpanels on the belt as the truck 87 begins its forward movement. Thespacing between the ends of successive panels P on the liner 81 permitsan individual panel P to be laid down with its cut trailing end inalignment with the plane 181 defining the opposite edge of the band, andwith the corresponding ends of the panels already disposed on the belt.The space intervening between the trailing cut edge of one ply panel andthe leading cut edge of the next ply panel avoids prematurely trapping anext panel so that the truck 87 can be moved back to its startingposition without damage to the leading edge of the next ply panel. Tofacilitate axial displacement or step-off of a second ply relative to afirst ply wound about the drum 24 to form a band thereon, the housings27 can be moved along the rails 31,32 a distance relative to the table52 corresponding to the desired step-off after the application of suchfirst ply and before the application of the second ply onto the drum 24.

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown forthe purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for building a giant tire; comprising band building meanson which a running length ply is formed to endless cylindrical band formof predetermined circumferential length;

endless belt means for receiving a plurality of successive individualpanels of ply stock thereon to form said running length ply and fortransferring directly said ply to said band building means;

bridge means spanning said belt means;

at least one supply roll truck mounted on said bridge means for to andfro movement longitudinally thereof across said belt means;

means for dispensing from a supply roll carried by said truck a singlepanel of said ply stock during said movement of said truck across saidbelt means; and

means for advancing said belt means stepwise toward said band buildingmeans a distance determined according to the width of said single panelafter such panel is received on said belt means whereby successive suchpanels can be spliced.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said band building means comprisinga band building drum mounted for rotation about its own axis and formovement longitudinally of said axis, whereby successive pliesconstituting a single band can be offset axially of each other, saiddrum being adjustable in circumferential length.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, said means for dispensing includinga core beam rotatably supporting a supply roll of panels interwound on aseparating liner and rewind means for rewinding said separating liner asthe same is unwound from said beam.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a tire carcassbuilding drum, means for maintaining said drum in coaxial alignment withsaid band building drum while the band is transferred from said bandbuilding drum to said carcass building drum, and transfer meansincluding a ring having a multiplicity of clamps spacedcircumferentially about an axis common to the two drums to grip acircular edge of said band and to move the same from said band buildingdrum onto said tire carcass building drum.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said bridge means comprising aplurality of support legs supporting the bridge means independently ofsaid belt means.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, said bridge means being swingableabout a vertical axis to dispose said bridge means in the direction ofmovement of said truck at selected angles across said belt means.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, each said leg having a wheel rollingon a track and drive means connected to drive at least one said wheel toswing said bridgeabout said vertical axis.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said endless belt means comprising apair of belt supported rolls extending parallel to the rotation axis ofsaid belt building means, a flat endless looped belt having a horizontalupper reach trained about said rolls and movable in a direction normalto the rotation axis of said band building means to a position close toand beneath said band building means.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, including means for elevating one ofsaid rolls and a portion of said belt thereon relative to the other ofsaid pair of rolls to move said belt into ply transferring relation withsaid band building means.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, said reach being at least equal inits length to the circumference of said band building means and in itswidth to the face width of said band building means.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, said endless belt means furthercomprising a conveyor table having bearing means rotatably supportingsaid rolls and mounted for movement toward and away from said bandbuilding means, and drive means operable to effect said movement of saidtable.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a ply engagingroller mounted swingably toward and away from said belt means on saidtruck for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the direction ofmovement of said truck on said bridge means.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim ,12, including means mounting saidbuilding drum for movement into a second position for removing the tire.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, including beadsetting meansmovable coaxially of said tire carcass building drum.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein one of said the carcassbuilding drum and said beadsetting means is movable relatively of theother into and out of coaxial alignment.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising means mountingsaid tire carcass building drum for pivotal movement to align saidbuilding drum coaxially with said band building drum in one position andwith said beadsetting device in another position of such carcassbuilding drum.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising means mountingsaid beadsetting means for movement between such aligned position and aremote position.

1. Apparatus for building a giant tire; comprising band building meanson which a running length ply is formed to endless cylindrical band formof predetermined circumferential length; endless belt means forreceiving a plurality of successive individual panels of ply stockthereon to form said running length ply and for transferring directlysaid ply to said band building means; bridge means spanning said beltmeans; at least one supply roll truck mounted on said bridge means forto and fro movement longitudinally thereof across said belt means; meansfor dispensing from a supply roll carried by said truck a single panelof said ply stock during said movement of said truck across said beltmeans; and means for advancing said belt means stepwise toward said bandbuilding means a distance determined according to the width of saidsingle panel after such panel is received on said belt means wherebysuccessive such panels can be spliced.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim1, said band building means comprising a band building drum mounted forrotation about its own axis and for movement longitudinally of saidaxis, whereby successiVe plies constituting a single band can be offsetaxially of each other, said drum being adjustable in circumferentiallength.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, said means for dispensingincluding a core beam rotatably supporting a supply roll of panelsinterwound on a separating liner and rewind means for rewinding saidseparating liner as the same is unwound from said beam.
 4. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 2, further comprising a tire carcass building drum,means for maintaining said drum in coaxial alignment with said bandbuilding drum while the band is transferred from said band building drumto said carcass building drum, and transfer means including a ringhaving a multiplicity of clamps spaced circumferentially about an axiscommon to the two drums to grip a circular edge of said band and to movethe same from said band building drum onto said tire carcass buildingdrum.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said bridge means comprising aplurality of support legs supporting the bridge means independently ofsaid belt means.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, said bridge meansbeing swingable about a vertical axis to dispose said bridge means inthe direction of movement of said truck at selected angles across saidbelt means.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, each said leg having awheel rolling on a track and drive means connected to drive at least onesaid wheel to swing said bridge about said vertical axis.
 8. Apparatusas claimed in claim 1, said endless belt means comprising a pair of beltsupported rolls extending parallel to the rotation axis of said beltbuilding means, a flat endless looped belt having a horizontal upperreach trained about said rolls and movable in a direction normal to therotation axis of said band building means to a position close to andbeneath said band building means.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8,including means for elevating one of said rolls and a portion of saidbelt thereon relative to the other of said pair of rolls to move saidbelt into ply transferring relation with said band building means. 10.Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, said reach being at least equal in itslength to the circumference of said band building means and in its widthto the face width of said band building means.
 11. Apparatus as claimedin claim 8, said endless belt means further comprising a conveyor tablehaving bearing means rotatably supporting said rolls and mounted formovement toward and away from said band building means, and drive meansoperable to effect said movement of said table.
 12. Apparatus as claimedin claim 1, further comprising a ply engaging roller mounted swingablytoward and away from said belt means on said truck for rotation about anaxis perpendicular to the direction of movement of said truck on saidbridge means.
 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, including meansmounting said building drum for movement into a second position forremoving the tire.
 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, includingbeadsetting means movable coaxially of said tire carcass building drum.15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein one of said tire carcassbuilding drum and said beadsetting means is movable relatively of theother into and out of coaxial alignment.
 16. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 15, further comprising means mounting said tire carcass buildingdrum for pivotal movement to align said building drum coaxially withsaid band building drum in one position and with said beadsetting devicein another position of such carcass building drum.
 17. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 15, further comprising means mounting said beadsettingmeans for movement between such aligned position and a remote position.